Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala stated that there is currently no confirmed information indicating that Ishara Sewwandi, the woman suspected to be involved in the murder of Ganemulla Sanjeewa, has fled the country.
Responding to a question from journalist Kalindu Karunaratne during the Ada Derana 24 programme, the Minister said that while certain media reports have raised suspicions that Sewwandi may have left Sri Lanka, no such fact has been uncovered through the ongoing investigations.
He added that although she remains a suspect in the case, all necessary details about her involvement have already been revealed through the interrogation of other suspects currently in custody.
When asked whether there had been security lapses during the time of Ganemulla Sanjeewa’s murder, Minister Wijepala admitted that there were issues. He acknowledged that intelligence had indicated for some time that Sanjeewa was under threat. As a result, arrangements were made to move him securely from Boossa, Galle to the court where the incident eventually occurred.
However, he revealed that the security within the court premises—where the murder took place—had not been handled by the police, but by a private security service. Furthermore, several problems were also noted regarding the screening of lawyers and court staff entering the court complex on that day.
“Although there was a general understanding that he faced danger, there was no specific intelligence indicating that an attack would occur at that particular location,” the Minister said, confirming that the incident happened as a result of a security lapse.
